MITRASAMPRAPTI

In the south of india, there was a city called Mahilaropya. Not far
from the city, there stood a very huge banyan tree. A crow by name
Laghupatanaka lived on that tree. One day as he was flying towards the city in
search of food, a person looking like a servant of Yama, holding a net and grains
in his hands appeared before him . On seeing him, the crow became suspicious
and alerted all the birds on the banyan tree thus: Oh, There is an evil hunter
coming here with net and grains, all of you should treat them as equivalent to
deadly poison. “ As he was speaking thus, that hunter came there, spread the
net, scattered a few grains that were like the sindhuvara flower, and stood
hidden having gone not far away. Later, those birds which were there, prevented
by Laghupatanaka’s bar of words considered those grains as sprouts of deadly
poison, and remained quiet. Meanwhile , a Pigeon king Chitragriva by name,
having thousand followers, roaming around in search of food, saw the grains
even from a distance, and though warned by Laghupatanaka, flew down to eat
them through greediness and was caught in the net along with his retinue.

Meanwhile, the hunter, having realized that they were caught,

became happy, and raising his staff, ran towards them to kill. Chitragirva also,
having understood he was caught along with his retinue, saw the hunter
running towards them, and addressed the pigeons: “Oh! Dont be afraid. It is
said, He, whose presence of mind does not fall in all difficulties, shall
undoubtedly overcome those through the firmness of mind". The nobel are the
same both in prosperity and in adversity. The sun is red at the time of rising, and
he is also red at the time of setting.

ससंपतत्तौ च वविपतत्तौ च महतताममेकरुपतता !

Chitragriva flew along with the net, leading all the birds. Lagupatanaka
followed them, curious to know what would happen then. The hunter, having
seen them going out of his sight, returned in desperation.

करतलगतमवप नशश्यतत श्यसश्य हह भववितवश्यतता नताससत !

Chitragriva also, on finding the hunter going out of sight, said to the
doves: “Oh, The wicked hunter has gone back. Now all of you must move
towards the North East of Mahilaropya.
 There my friend, a mouse, Hiranyaka by name is residing. He will
cut the bonds of all of us.” To all humans beings, when troubles arise, except a
friend, no one else will offer any help, even lip-sympathy.

विताङमतातमेणतावप सताहतायश्यसं ममततादनश्यन्यो न सनदधमे !

Thus advised by Chitragirva, all those pigeons reached the burrow-

fort of Hiranyaka. Then Chitragriva arrived at the burrow and shouted aloud:
“Oh my friend, Hiranyaka, come out quickly. Great is my trouble.” On hearing
that Hiranyaka asked, remaining in the burrow-fort only. “Oh, who are you?
Why have you come ? On hearing that Chitragriva replied, “Oh, I am your friend
Chitragriva, the pigeon-king. So please come out quickly. “Having heard that,
the mouse, getting thrilled with joy, and delighted, came out quickly with a
horripilated body. For it’s not felt even in the heaven, that happiness which one
feels in his mind, to whose house friends come everyday.

श्यतसत्तौखश्यसं तसश्य चचतमे सश्यतात त न तत त सविगरर्गः अवप जताश्यतमे !

And on seeing Chitragriva caught in the net, asked sadly, “how is this

happened?
Chitragriva replied: “I ended up in bonds because of my love of food.
Now you please release us quickly from these bonds.” Hiranyaka was then
prepared to bite the bonds of Chitragriva first. But Chitragriva stopped him,
“Good one, don’t do so. First cut the bonds of my followers. After that only,
mine. “Having heard that Hiranyaka retorted angrily, “Oh, you have not spoken
properly. For, servants are considered after the master only.” Chitragriva said,
“No don’t say so. These poor ones depend on me. Also, they came by leaving
their families. Then tell me, shouldn’t I show at least this much of consideration
for them? Besides, your teeth might break while you’re biting through my
bonds or the wicked hunter may arrive. Then surely I will go to hell.” On hearing
that Hiranyaka became very happy, and released all of them from the bonds,
and bid the farewell.
 Laghupatanaka, who witnessed the release from bonds of Chitragriva,
was amazed and thought to himself: ‘Oh, how intelligent this mouse is! What a talent,
and what a well-equipped fort! This indeed is the way for the birds to get released from
their bonds. Even though I don’t believe any one, being fickle by nature, still I shall
make friendship with him. Wise men, even though endowed with fullness should make
friends. Though the sea is full of water, it awaits the rise of moon.
नददीशर्गः पररपपणर-अवप चननन्योदश्यमपमेक्षतमे !

Having thus reflected, he called out to Hiranyaka, “Come out, oh Hiranyaka

come out! On listening to that sound, Hiranyaka thought to himself whether any
dove had remained caught in the net. He asked: “Oh, who are you? The crow
replied, I am a crow called Laghupatanaka. I saw you releasing Chitragriva from bonds,
I am very much pleased by that. If I was ever caught in a snare, you could help me. So,
please make friendship with me. “Hirnayaka said, “Oh, You are my eater, and I am food
to you. Then how I can be friend with you? So go away, how can there be friendship
where there is enemity? The crow said, “Oh Hiranyaka ! I am here at the door of your
fort. If you make friendship with me then only I’ll touch food. Otherwise I will starve to
death.” Hiranyaka said, “Oh, How can I make friendship with you, you are an enemy?
Enemity is of two types. Natural and Artificial. Ours is natural enemity. Artificial enemity
vanishes when the cause is removed; while the natural enemity does not come to an
end without the sacrifice of one's life. Ours is natural enemity.” One should not make
friendship withan enemy though there is an agreement with him; Though the
water is well heated, does indeed extinguish the fire."

ससतपतमवप पताननीश्यसं शमश्यतश्यमेवि पताविकम त !

Then Laghupatanaka pleaded thus : “If you do not trust me, staying in your
hole only, you can talk with me daily, speaking about merits and demerits, morals,
This Laghupatanaka seems to be
etc.” On hearing it, Hiranyaka thougt to himself,
clever in speech. He may be telling the truth. So I think it is proper to make friendship
with him. ‘Then he told him, “But you
shall never put your foot in my house.”

On hearing it, the crow said, “good one, let it be so.” From then
onwards those two stayed experiencing the happiness of good conversations. They
spent their time helping each other. Laghupatanaka would bring with affection pieces
of meat, remaining of sacrificial offerings, deliciously cooked items etc., for
Hiranyaka. The later would also bring grains during night and other food items and
offer them to Laghupatanaka who visited him at that time. Thus pleased by his care
and concern, the mouse trusted the crow so much that he would even sit under his
wings and talk with him always.
 But one day, the crow came to the mouse having tears in his eyes and said in
chocked voice, “Oh Hiranyaka, I am dissatisfied with this part of the country! I would
like to fly off to some other place.” Hiranyaka asked, “Good fellow, what is the cause
of your dissatisfaction?”He replied, “Listen, O good one, in this place drought
occurred as there have been no rains for a long time. Because of this drought, people
are tormented by hunger, and as such they are not making any sacrificial offerings.
Moreover, in every house a number of traps have been set by people to catch birds.
Having been caught in one of those traps, I somehow managed to escape as I have a
few more days to live. This is the reason of my dissatisfaction. I shed tears as I am
leaving for some other country. “Hiranyaka said, “Now where do you go? “He replied,
“There is a lake further south, deep in the jungle. A turtle by name Mantharaka, a
dearest friend of mine, more than you, is there. He would feed me pieces of fish. By
eating them, I can spend my time happily discussing moral tales etc., with him. I don’t
want to stay here and see the destruction of birds caught in traps.”

What is a heavy burden to the able? What is a distance place to industrious ?

What is a foreign country to the learned and who is a stranger to those who talk
sweetly. "The quality of learning and quality are never equal; a king is honoured in his
country only, while a learned man is honoured everywhere."

सविदमेशमे पपजश्यतमे रताजता वविदवितान त सविरत पपजश्यतमे !

Hiranyaka said, “if that is the case, I would also come with you. I too have
experienced great sorrow here.” The crow asked, “What is your suffering, tell me.
“Hiranyaka said, “Oh, there is a long story to tell regarding that matter. I tell you
everything in detail having gone there.” The crow said, “But, I fly in the air, so how can
you accompany me?” “Well,“ replied the mouse, “if you want to save my life, then
you can carry me on your back and take me. For me there is no other way.” On
hearing it the crow said gleefully, “if that is so, I am blessed. For, I can spend time there
with you also.”

Hiranyaka got on to the back of the crow at that very moment. Carrying the
mouse, the crow flying in the sampata (ordinary flying) mode, finally reached the lake.
Then on seeing Laghupatanaka, carrying a mouse on his back, from a distance,
Mantharaka, who has knowledge of place and time, understood that it was an
extraordinary crow, and quickly entered the waters. Laghupatanaka, having
dropped Hiranyaka in the hollow of a tree on the bank of the lake, perched on the top
of a branch, and said loudly, “O Mantharaka, Come out! I am the crow Laghupatanaka,
your friend and I have come after a long time eager to meet you.”

On hearing that Mantharaka, having recognized well, quickly came out of

the waters, and said, “Come on, Come on, friend, embrace me. I couldn’t recognize you
for sometime. Hence I entered the waters.” As he said so, Laghupatanaka alighted from
the tree and embraced him. What is the use of sandal mixed with camphor and of cold
 snow, for they all do not equal even one-sixteenth part of the pleasure derived from the
embrace of a friend.

सविरतमे ममतगतातसश्य कलतासं नताहरसनत षन्योडशनीम त !

Thus both of them, having embraced each other, their bodies horripilating,
sat under the tree and asked each other about themselves.

Hiranyaka also bowed to Mantharaka, and sat near the crow. On seeing him
Mantharaka queried Laghupatanaka, “Oh, who is this mouse? Even though it is your
food, why have you brought this carrying on your back? I think there must be some
great reason.” On hearing it, Laghupatanaka said, “Oh, this is a mouse named
Hiranyaka. He is my friend, and is like my second life. But he is very despondent now.
“Mantharaka asked, “What is the reason for his despair? “The crow replied, “I have
also asked him. But he has said that it is a long story and that he would tell it when he
arrived here. He hasn’t told me either.

ANNOTATIONS
1. ससंपतत्तौ च वविपतत्तौ च महतताममेकरुपतता !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an extrtact
from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: chitragriva said these words to his followers when they were caught in the
net spread by the hunter.

Meaning: The noble has the same appearance both in prosperity and in
adversity

2. करतलगतमवप नशश्यतत श्यसश्य हह भववितवश्यतता नताससत !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: The hunter thought thus when he saw the pigeons flown out of his
sight.
Meaning: The one which is in hands will also be lost, that what is not destined
to be remain.
EXPLANATION: Chitragriva, the Pigeon king advised his followers to fly along
with the net. They did so. The hunter followed them running on the
ground. But when the pigeons went out of his sight, he thought to
himself that which is not to happen will never happen, and that which
has to happen will happen even without effort. If it is not destined for
him, that which is in hand will also be lost.

3. विताङमतातमेणतावप सताहतायश्यसं ममततादनश्यन्यो न सनदधमे !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: Chitragriva said these words to his followers when they flew out
of the sight of hunter.

Meaning: Except a friend, no one else will render any favor even by words also.

EXPLANATION: When the Pigeons flew out of sight of the hunter, their king
Chitragriva asked them to fly towards the north east of Mahilaropya.He said
that his friend
Hirano aka was living there. Except a friend no one else will help when someone is
in trouble.

4. श्यतसत्तौखश्यसं तसश्य चचतमे सश्यतात त न तत त सविगरर्गः अवप जताश्यतमे !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context:The poet thus described the happiness of a person on the arrival of a friend
and mentioned the same. (when Hiranyaka came out of his hole to meet Chitragriva.)
Meaning: The happiness that a person feels on the arrival of a friend will not be
found even in the heaven.

EXPLANATION: When Chitragriva called him to come out, Hiranyaka felt happy to
meet his friend, and came out with his body thrilled with joy. Then the poet said
that the
happiness a person feels when friends come to his house is not there even in
heaven.

5. नददीशर्गः पररपपणर-अवप चननन्योदश्यमपमेक्षतमे !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an extract
from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: Laghupatanaka thought this to himself when he wanted to

make friendship with Hiranyaka.
Meaning: Even though the sea is full of water, it awaits for the moon-rise

EXPLANATION: Laghupatanaka observed how Hiranyaka freed Chitragriva and his

followers, from the bonds. Praising the intelligence and talent of Hiranyaka, he
thought of
making friendship with the mouse. Though he was fickle minded, he wanted to
make friends with the mouse as the wise, though well equipped make friends.
The ocean waits for moon-rise to go high tide.

6. ससतपतमवप पताननीश्यसं शमश्यतश्यमेवि पताविकम त !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: Hiranyaka said these words to Laghupatanaka while saying

that friendship would not be possible between natural enemies.

Meaning: Though the water is hot, it would extinguish the fire.

EXPLANATION: When Laghupatanaka expressed his desire of making friendship
with him., Hiranyaka said that as he was his food, he could not make friendship
with him.
When Laghupatanaka said that he would strave to death, the mouse said that even
by a well made agreement one shall not make friendship with an enemy. Though
the water is hot, it would extinguish the fire.

7. सविदमेशमे पपजश्यतमे रताजता वविदवितान त सविरत पपजश्यतमे !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: Laghupatanaka said these words to Hiranyaka while expressing his

desire to leave the country.

Meaning: A king is honoured in his country only. But a wise man is

honoured everywhere.

EXPLANATION: Laghupatanaka said that as there was drought in the country, even
birds were being killed. So he would go to his friend Mantharaka, a tortoise. He said
that for a wise man there is no foreign place. Scholarship and royalty are not the
same. A king is honoured only in his country. But a wise man is honoured
everywhere.

8. सविरतमे ममतगतातसश्य कलतासं नताहरसनत षन्योडशनीम त !

Reference: This line is taken from the lesson ‘Mitrasamprapti”, which is an

extract from the Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sarma.

Context: Laghupatanaka was very much dissatisfied with the drought conditions
of the country and went to the lake where his friend mantharaka was. There
Laghupatanaka stood on a tree situated on the bank of the lake and asked
Mantharaka to come out of the lake and mentioned the above words.
 and the cold snow are
Meaning: Even the sandal paste mixed with camphor
would not be equal to one sixteenth part of the pleasure derived from the embrace

of a friend.